Following the theme of E.U.-Central American relations that took center stage last week during the first round of negotiations of an association agreement between these two regions, a delegation of the European Parliament is scheduled to visit Costa Rica later this week to work on strengthening ties, according to a statement from the Foreign Ministry.

The group will arrive Wednesday and plans to begin their visit with a working breakfast with Costa Rican ambassadors of countries belonging to the European Union.

E.U. representatives will then be received by Vice-President Laura Chinchilla and meet with Legislative Assembly president Francisco Antonio Pacheco, legislative faction heads and members of the foreign relations and foreign trade commissions.

Also on the group's agenda is a roundtable discussion on the association agreement being negotiated by the two regions and meetings with the vice-ministers of Foreign Relations and Foreign Trade.

The European delegation includes representatives from Spain, Slovakia, Portugal and Poland.